Device for operating a dielectric barrier discharge lamp

Abstract

A device for operating a dielectric barrier discharge lamp in which not only the efficiency is maintained, but in which a reduction of the irradiance over the course of use is advantageously prevented. The device includes a dielectric barrier discharge lamp and a feed device for applying a high voltage to this dielectric barrier discharge lamp, wherein the feed device via a set-up transformer applies a high voltage with an essentially periodic waveform to the barrier discharge lamp. Moreover, the applied high voltage first produces a steep rising waveform and then ringing, wherein the ratio of the difference between a second extreme value point and a third extreme value point to the difference between a first extreme value point and the second extreme value point of the ringing is less than or equal to 30%. It is a further object of an embodiment of the present invention to reduce or eliminate the ringing.

What we claim is:  
     
       1. A device for operating a dielectric barrier discharge lamp, comprising a feed device for applying a high voltage to the dielectric barrier discharge lamp, 
       wherein the feed device comprises a set-up transformer adapted to apply a high voltage with a periodic waveform to the barrier discharge lamp, said waveform, at a polarity change after a dielectric barrier discharge, having a steep rising waveform and a subsequent ringing, a first wave form maximum or minimum value, a second wave form maximum or minimum value, and a third wave form maximum or minimum value, and for which a ratio of a first difference between the second wave form maximum or minimum value and the third wave form maximum or minimum value relative to a second difference between the first wave form maximum or minimum value and the second wave form maximum or minimum value is produced that is less than or equal to 30%.  
     
     
       2. Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said ratio produced results in minimization of said ringing approaching elimination thereof.